Prayers, Please

Mary Poppins had all kinds of advice, but the bit that sticks in my head this morning is that there's a word you can say when you have nothing to say.

It's Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Hmm.

I don't feel any different.

Maybe I should go with Maria's advice in the Sound of Music and sing about my favorite things.

Or maybe I should do what the apostle Paul and so many others have done through the centuries and ask the saints to lift up prayers of intercession.

Mom has uterine cancer. She's having surgery this morning to remove a bunch of stuff she never thought she'd live without and the one thing she'd rather not live with. I'll head down to the hospital soon to sit with Dad, and probably a crowd of church ladies, while Mom's in surgery.

Prayers, please?

What would you grab?

Today is a high drama day on both sides of my family. People I love are being require to make quick decisions and take quick action.

To the north, my brother and his wife are on a leer jet, flying toward the hospital where their baby should be born within the next couple of hours. They got the test results back from her amniocentesis and found out that the baby's lungs are not developed enough, but her own preeclampsia dictates that the baby be born today. From the time she got the news to the time they were in the air was about an hour and a half. They didn't even have time to go home and get anything or to say good-bye to their toddler.

A fire is raging through the Bosque, forty acres so far and about 15% contained. My in-laws' house is just up the hill. They're packing their trailer in case they're forced to evacuate.

If you know my in-laws, you know the question of what to grab is a tough one. He's a book collector and has thousands and thousands of books on his library shelves. She's a weaver, a spinner, a knitter, a quilter... which fibers should she save? Which finished projects are the ones that should be salvaged?

What would you grab?

A pet? A Photo album? A laptop? An heirloom?

It's always been a hypothetical question up to now. But seriously, in a crisis, what are the most important things in your life?

I know what one of mine is... I'd appreciate your prayers for both sides of the family.

Mom's Prayer

The awards ceremony for the Genesis contest was last week. I went to Denver feeling like I had a 1 in 5 shot at winning my category. I bought new shoes. I borrowed a dress.

My mom prayed for me. She prayed that whether I won or lost, I would be able to enjoy my time, that I wouldn't be too disappointed if I lost.

By the time the awards night rolled around, I already knew I wasn't going to win. No one came out and told me, but I had a dozen little hints that Jennifer Griffith was the best new writer in Contemporary Fiction (the first being that she'd already won the category a previous year).

So, thanks to Mom's prayer, I was able to go to the banquet not even nervous about whether I would win or lose. I enjoyed the night and was truly happy for those who won.

Thanks, Mom.

Prayers, Please

One of our dear friends, Hammer Afakule, suffered a stroke this week. He was in the hospital, but is now home and seems to be on the mend. He was able to teach Bible class on Sunday.

Many of you have met Hammer, or at least know him by reputation. He's one of the hardest workers in God's kingdom on the ground in Togo. We pray that he'll have many, many more years of productive service.

Pray for his wife Dela and his children Dovene, Nancy and Joycie. Pray for the church in Vogan where Hammer lives to find the maturity to take some responisbilities off his shoulders and for Hammer to have the grace to let some of his projects go.

Prayer and Praise

2 big events today.

1. My mom, who broke her back in a fall a couple of months ago, is having surgery to glue her back together this morning. I'm heading over to the hosptial soon to check on her. Pray for her?

2. My nephew, quite possibly one of the cutest boys on the planet, is turning 1 today. Happy Birthday Elijah Hugh!

First Monday

I love talking with friends. Conversation can go any which way depending on the day and who I'm with. This weekend, hanging out with one of my buddies, we've covered topics ranging from the economy to bad haircuts to raising kids to home improvement plans.

Conversation with God can go every which way, too. My prayer times often skip the deep stuff to get to the easy prayers - prayers for people who are traveling or those who are ill, for those going through divorce and those who want blessings for their plans. Good prayers to pray, but they don't require any risk on my part.

Today, though, I've been called to a harder prayer. A friend of mine is calling people to mobilize in prayer on the first Monday of every month in hopes that we will see God moving in hearts around the world. On this first 1st Monday, he's asking that we fall silent before God and that we confess to him our own sins and failings, the failings of the church and of the nation.

Honestly, when I heard him say it, I thought, "well, at least confessing the last two will be easy." But God calls us to humble ourselves before him and before each other. And humbling myself means doing the hard things first.

There are many ways you can live out a deeper life, but for now, I'm going to join the worldwide prayer of 1st Mondays. (You can join the 1st Monday group on Facebook for more information.)

Lost and Found

Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn't you leave the other ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it?


The little dog ran away on Friday. The kids ran after her, but (Thank you, God) they stopped short of the freeway. I turned the younger kids and extra pets over to some friends and started the longest, most intense search I could manage, with the help of a lot of friends, some strangers, and the older kids. We must have had 30 people out looking for the little gal over the next 4 days.

I was out each morning, with or without help, walking through the neighborhood, talking to strangers, tromping through wetlands and trespassing on all kinds of property. Fliers, business cards, craigslist ads, visits to the humane society, calls to vets and animal hospitals, calls for prayer. Oh, please God, bring the little puppy home.

When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulder, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, "Celebrate with me! I've found my lost sheep!"

We got the call this afternoon just as we were starting another search. She's been found! Hungry and afraid, she turned up on the doorstep of a group home where they took her in. They kind of hoped she didn't belong to anyone so they could keep her, but they saw an ad in the paper and called.

We're so happy! Her little chihuahua sister is so happy. Even the basset hound has managed to perk up a little at her return!

Count on it - there's more joy in heaven over one sinner's rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue. (Luke 15, The Message)

Thanks to all of you who helped, who prayed, who hugged and cried. It's time for a puppy party!

Heartsick

Some friends entrusted us with their puppies, believing they'd be in a safe home. One of the puppies ran away yesterday. She's so small and helpless and this will be her second night out on her own.

I'm heartsick.

I know it's a small request in the grand scheme of things, but I'm asking for prayers for her safe and swift return.

Perspective on Prayer

Gas prices are up. Food prices are up. Taxes are due next week.

And a role model for my children is having surgery for cancer tomorrow.

I was reminded this weekend that it's not sin and evil that chokes out the fruit God wants to bring in my life, it's worry. Worry steals joy, peace, and faith.

This role model has taught me so much about letting go of worry. He's had his reasons to fret - physical challenges, unemployment, challenges with kids - but he keeps grinning and giving. Why is it that those who are most entitled to fretting and pity parties have the most to teach the rest of us about trust?

Pray with me?

Oasis?

Fort St. John, British Columbia

We're 2 days behind schedule so far. There's something wrong with the van-- we don't know what. We've been up the road a piece but with the van unwilling to climb hills, it's not worth the risk to go on. Today is Thursday.

The wedding's next Saturday.

Oh God, please don't let it take that long to get there.

Would you all pray with me that the car gets fixed in the morning and that we can get back on the road. We'll already be late to Juneau, but we've got to get to the wedding.

Prayers Needed

Many of you who check this blog are pray-ers. Please join me in prayer for these two women:

Pat just had surgery to correct a problem, but the surgery was not successful. She's in ICU.

Jane had a lump removed from her breast, but the pathology came back showing that there is still cancer present. She'll be going in for another surgery soon.

I know that both of these women would agree with these words from Job:

"God gives. God takes.
God's name be ever blessed."

He Hears

I find it easy to get so caught up in the needs and wants and requests of the moment that I sometimes forget to go back and say thank you for the prayers God has already answered. There have been a lot this week.

Mom had 2 things worrying her today and noth of those worries have been wiped away.

A friend was having trouble with her knee and wasn't sure if she'd be able to get around on a planned trip to Europe. She not only got in to see a doctor, but he "happened" to have an opening for surgery right away. She came through safe and sound with time to heal before the voyage.

Another friend lost a filling while in Africa. We prayed for her trip to the dentist, that she would be safe, that the instruments would be sanitary. She found a dentist with a clean office, but when he looked at her teeth, he said there was nothing wrong at all.

Another friend (isn't it nice to have so many friends!) let God overcome her terror at singing in front of a crowd. I can't wait to hear her solo tonight.

Still ANOTHER friend took the kids last night and let Edwin and I have a much-needed date night.

We've known that we'd need to purchase a new car for a while, but we didn't have enough money set aside to get anything reliable. Just as the old car was sputtering to a stop, God provided enough money for us to buy a van, and we were able to find one that was priced well below value because of cosmetic damage.

Those are just a few of the prayers being answered around here. Any requests being fulfilled where you are?